Sound-box for talking-machines.



J. O. ENGLISH. SOUND BOX FOR TALKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 31, 1910.

Patented June 10, 1913.

INVEN 5 WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J OHN C. ENGLISH, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO VICTOR T ALKING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SOUN'D-BOX FOR TALKING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1913.

Application filed October 31, 1910. Serial No. 589,845.

To all whom it concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. ENGLISH, a'

citizen of the United Sgtates, and a resident of the city of Gamden, county of Camden, and State of New Jersey, have invented eert-ain new and useful Improvements l1;

o m which the followingis a full, clear, r nd-ex Sound-Bo xes for Talking-Machines,

, curacy and eflicieney; to-proyidein a sound -fl '15 box, an improved casing, animproved dia-' phrag'm, and ail-improved stylus bar and mounting therefor; and to provide other improvements as will appear hereinafter.

It has been contended that insound boxes-- min which a thin 'flexible' diaphragm is used and in which-the sound, vibrations are proor recorded by flexing the diaphragm,

- thediaphragm acts likea reed and responds sympathetically to certain tones in a manner that-'. produces undesirable results. It has also been'ooljltended that such a diaphragm isiromparatively diflicult to vibrate and does act with suflicient sensitiveness .to pro-. "cc or to record delicate over-tones. In this invention these defects which it has been contended are'incident to'the recording or reproductionfof sound b the flexing .of a-diaphragm, are obviated y utilizing, instead of a fiexiblefiiaphragm, a sub- 25 stantially inflexible'di hmgm andan im? proved mounting there or whereby'thedia-i phragm is permitted-to vibrateas'a whole without being flexed. j

- In the accompanying drawings,' Fi gure '1 m-is a, front elevation of. a soundl'b'ox .con-

structed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2a transverse section on the line-2-2- of .1;. Fig. '3 a side elevation of vthe same; Fig.24'a1 perspectiveof a detail of the same; Fig. 5 afi'ag nentary enlargement of' a portion of Fig.' 2';--F1g. 6 a view similarto- Fig. 5 but bowing a modifiedformof this invention; Tig. .7 an enlarged-fragmentary diamtrica-l section of the diaphragm and V mounting or supporting rin shown in Figs.

1, 2 and 5 as they appear be ore'beingplaced of :two main portions,a cylindrical cup shaped front plate 1 and a back plate 2 tele- "outer periphery of the plate. The inner surthe recess 15, and having a cylindrical outer "ably eonve'x in cross, sectionand in the form of two oppositely disposed inwardly conportion of the in position in the sound box; and Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig: 7, showing in a similar way the diaphragm and modified form of mounting therefor which are shown in operative positionin Fig. 6.

-Referring to the drawings, one embodiment 'of this invention comprises a' "cylindrical sound box casing or support composed scoping'into the front plate and provided with a circular central aperture 3 for the pa$age of sound waves;

Secured to the rear face of the back plate 2, coaxial therewith,by means of screw 5, is a yielding-tubularextension 6 provided with a non-yielding lining 7 and an inwardly projecting stop 8, whereby the sound box may'be telescoped over the usual tubular tone-arm or sound conveyer (not shown).

The inner surface 10 of the back plate 2 is preferably convexly curved flaring inwardly from the central aperture 3 to the 75 face of the front late 1 of-the; casing is preferably in the orm of a'stepped cylinder, providing an annular shoulder 12 facing rearwardly and spaced from theopposite inner surface of the back plate 2, forming therewith an annular recess '15. in which snugly fits a yielding gasket or mounting 16, in which is supported a diaphragm 17.

Thegasket 16 is continuous or'closed in structure, is preferably made of rubber or other suitable solid resilient or yielding material, and vis preferably substantially T- shaped in cross section, comprising a base 18 substantially equal in width to the width of surface 19 slightly greater in diameter than the cylindrical inner surface of the recess "15. Theumor surface of the-base 18 is .prefer- 55 verging conical surfaces 20, which meet in .a centrall arranged nonnall flat annular web 21 w id: forms 8. reduce intermediate gasket. 1his web 21'is integral with the base 18 and-extremely thin and '100 flexible. "The-inner portion ofthe web 21 I terminates in 'anannular binder'or holder,

integral with and thicker than the web and is provided upon its inner edge with a centrally arranged annular cylindrical grooved recess 22, inv which snugly fits the marginal throughout its entire extent, and with the exception of its marginal portion, is preferably dished or conical in shape, converging rearwardly axially with the sound box casing. The marginal portion of the diaphragm is preferably in the form of a flat annulus, arranged in a planeperpendicnlar to the longitudinal axis of the sound box.

As the diameter of the gasket 16 is slightly larger than the internal diameter of the recess 15, in which it is held, the gasket willbe held under a state of compression when the diaphragm and gasket are in operative position in the casing, and the thin portion of the web 21 will be slightly distorted laterally,.as shown in Fig. 2 and enlarged in Fig. 5, from'its normally fiat con-.

dition. The diaphragm istlius held when in operative position under a slight tension or compression against the periphery 17 thereof by the gasket actingqadially against the peripheral, edge of the diaphragm and it may here be stated that so far as this application is concerned the expressions periphery or peripheral portion or peripheral edge refer to the outer edge of the diaphragm, that is to say, that portion of the diaphragm between the plane surfaces of the opposite sides of the marginal port ion of the diaphragm.

To hold the back plate 2 in position and to permit of the adjustment of the back plate toward and away from the gasket. 16, a series of oblong apertures 23 are provided through the cylindrical rim of the front.

plate, and a headed screw 24cxtends loosely throu h each of these apertures and is threaded into the back plate. By this con struction the pressing of the back upon the base of the gasket may be varied 'tq increase or diminish the pressure of the gasket against the peripheral edge of the diap ragm. V

For communicating vibrations corresponding to sound waves to or from the diaphragm, a stylus bar 25 is mounted to oscillate uponthe front plate of the sound box casing, one end of thebar being within the casing axially in front of the diaphragm, and the bar extending radially outwardly through an' aperture 26 provided therefor in the casing. The inner end 'of the stylus bar is pivotally connected to the outer end of. a light but rigid connecting rod 27, the inner end of which is phonetically connected in any suitable manner to the central portion of the diaphragm, the outer end of the connecting rod being preferably bifurcated to receive the inner end of the stylus bar.

The outer end of the stylus bar projects outwardly from the sound-box casing and is provided with the usual stylus socket 30 and set screw 31 for holdinga stylus 32 in place.

For supporting the stylus bar to oscillate upon a substantially fixed axis with respect to the sound box casing, the bar is provided outside of the casing with a cross-piece 35, rigid therewith, and projecting in opposite directions therefrom. Each end of this cross-piece 35 is' recessed to receive a clamping plate 36, which is adjustably' connected to the cross-piece by means of a headed screw 37, which extends loosely throughthe clamping plate and an aperture in one end of a flexible connector 38 and is threaded into the cross-piece 35.

Eachof the two flexible connectors, or

spaced yielding supports 38 is preferably made of thin tempered-steel. but may be made of copper, fabric or other non-resilient material. Each connector 38'extends inwardly from' the cross-piece 35,. being clamped rigidly at its outer end between the cross-piece 35 and theclamping plates 36 by means of the screw 37. The inner end of each flexible connector 38 is similarly clamped against the rear surface of an extension 39, integral or rigid with the front portion of the sound box'casing, by means of a. clamping plate 40 and a screw 41. The flexible connectors 38 are thus arranged parallel to each other and in'a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sound box casing. J

The space between the extension of the casing and the cross-piece 35'of the stylus bar is preferably only suflicient to permit of the necessary oscillation of the bar, and the bar is thus restrained to swing upon a substantially fixed axis, perpendicular to the bar and parallel to the plane of the marginal portion of the diaphragm.

In the modified form of this invention shown in Figs; 6 and 8. the sound box casing and the diaphragm 17 are constructed as hereinbefore described and the gasket 51 is substantially identical with the gasket '16,

'hereinbefore described except that the marginal portion-or base of this gasket is bifurcated and in the form of two outwardly divergin portions 52. The outerdiameter of the bi urcated base of this gasket is nor- 'mally substantially the same as "the inner ,ward each other between the shoulder 12 little, 'if any, appreciable lossof .e'afliciency due to the diaphragm or its mount-ing- It is evident that in applying this inven of the front plate 1 and the inner surfaceof the back plate 2, so as to'compress the gasket radially against the peripheral edge of the diaphragm l7. The thin'web-likepoF tion of the gasket isslightly distorted lat-. erally from its normally, flat plane' by-thisa diaphragm, of yielding compression.

Ihe stylus bar and its mounting" did other features of this modifiedconst-ru ion may be the same as shown and hereinbefore described.

In the operation of this device,- owingto' the extreme thinness and flexible nature of the web forming the intermediate portion of the gasket, and to'the extreme lightness and comparatively inflexible nature of the diaphragm, the diaphragm is extremely sensitive to respond to the vibration of the stylus bar in reproducing sound ortao'respond to the action of the sound waves in recording souncl'and in either case therefore the diaphragm vibrates-as a whole. withoutanyappreciable flexing and there is very tion various. changes might bemade in the constructions without departing from the:

spirit of this invention or the scope of the appended claims. 4

Having thus described this invention, I;

claimand desire to protect by Letters Pat:

ent-of the United States: a

1. In a'sound box, the combination with ,a substantially inflexible conical diaphragm, of a yielding gasket supporting said diaphragm, said gasket being held under an initial pressure forcing said gasket against the peripheral edge of said diaphragm.

'2. In a sound box, the combination with a circular diaphragm, ofa yielding gasket v supporting the same, said gasket comprisin r phragm and surrounding saidediaphragm in an annular base portion greater in interna diameter than the diameter of said diathe plane of the margipal edge'thereof, and comprising a relatively thin annular portion between said base portion and said diaphragm.

3. A gasket for a siund box comprising an annular base portion and a relatively thin normally 'flut annular portion carried.

by said base portion and projecting toward the center of said base portion from the internal surface of said base portion.

4. A yielding gasket for 'a sound box, comprising a base portioma relatively thin 'port-ion-inelose'd'by and projecting inwardly from said base portion, and a holder extending inwardly from said relatively thin portion, and adapted to support the marginal portion of a diaphragm.

5.. Anannular yielding 'gas'ket fo-r' a sound box, comprisingthese portion, a relatively thin portion projecting inwsrdl from said faseportiom-and "a grooved ho der extending inwardly from said relatively thin portion, and adapted tosup'portthe marginal portion-of a diaphragm.

'6. In a sound box, thecombination with means engaging -the peripheral-edgeofsaid 'diaphra'gm, and adjustable means for compressing said 'yieldingmea ns -'to appl -=a yielding pressure upo'nsaid peripheral je ge-radially'-with respectto said diaphragm.

7. In 'a'sound box, a yielding support, of a .diaphmgm having its marginal edge surrounded and engaged by saidsupport, the, diaphragm beingof' a size to place the'yieldin Isupport'imtler initial compression, and adjustable ineans acting on the iyieldingsupport to modify the st-ateof compressionof said support.

hecenibination with a diaphragm having a eu pedemtml portion and a substantiallyfiat-'riim of a yielding gasket engaging-saidrim and held under-an initial pressure, forcing said gasket radially against the peripheral'edge of said IlIl'l.

9. In asound box, the combixia'tion-with a diaphragm, ojf-ia yielding'gasket supporting said dlaphmgmgandjbearing against the marginal lgasket comprising a ielding bwe-sportion having an internal diametQr gteiiter tBan the external diameter Ofsaidfiiapmfgmund' arranged in the plane ofithedharginal'fedge of said diaphragm, and 'comprisingm =relatively thin yielding portion between said base portion and said diaphragm.

10. An annular -.yielding gasket for a sound box, said gasketcomprising a yielding annular base portion, and a yielding'annular'portion thinner than and inclosed by said base portion, integral therewith and projecting inWa-rdly' from the internal surface of said base portion.

11. An annular yielding gasket for a sound box, comprising a yielding annular base portion, a normally fiatannular web thinner than said base portion and integral with and projecting inwardly therefrom, and an internally groovedholder projecting inwardly from said web and integral therewith.

12. In a sound box, .,the-combination with a diaphragm oft/gasketsurrounding .said

diaphragm and supporting the same, said gasket comprising a holder embracing the opposite sides of the margin of said dia-- in contact with the marginal' edge of said state of compression.

diaphragm.

14. In a sound box, the combination with a diaphragm vibratory as a whole, without flexing, and in a direction transverse to its own plane, of a yielding gasket surrounding and supporting said diaphragm, said asket being free to flex, and being held under an initial state of compression by said dia- 15. In a sound box, the combination with a diaphragm vibratory as a whole, without flexing, and in a direction transverse to its own plane, of-a yielding. gasket surrounding, andsupporting'said diaphragm, said gasket being free to'flex, and being held under-an initial state of compression by said dia*.

phragm, said gasket reacting to compress said diaphragm radially. A v

16. In a sound box, the combination with a dished diaphragm of substantially uniform thickness throughout its full extent,-of a yielding gasket surrounding and supporting saiddiaphragm, said gasket being free to flex and being held in an-initial state of compression by said diaphragm. 1-

17. In a sound box, the combinat-ion with adiaphragm of a yieldin" gasket free to: flex and supportmgsaid aphragm man initial state of. compression, said diaphragm reacting to hold said-gasket under an initial 1 state of compression.-

- adiaphragm vibratory as'a. whole without 18. In a sound box, the combination with flexing, and in a direction transverse to its own plane, of a yielding gasket supporting said diaphragm and holding the same in an initial state of compressiomsaid' diaphragm reacting to hold said gasket. in an initial 19. In a sound box, the combination with f a diaphragm vibratory as a. whole without flexing and in a directiontransverse to its own plane, of a yielding gasket entirelyi I supporting said diaphragm and holding the its own plane, of a yielding gasket inclosingsame in an initial state of compression, said.

diaphragm 'reacting' to hold said gasket in an initial state of compressiom 20. In a sound box, the combination with a, substantiallyinflexible diaphragm vibratory asi'a whole. in a direction transverse to ripheral edge thereof and holding said diaphragm in an initial state of-compression,

. said diaphragm reacting through its marginal edge to hold said gasket in an initial state of compression. 7

21. A gasket for a sound box, comprising a continuous base portion, and a relatively thin web portion carried and surrounded by said base portion.

22. A gasket for a sound box, comprising a continuous base portion and a relatively thin web portion carried by said base portion and projecting into the space inclosed by said base portion.

23. A gasket for a sound box, comprising a continuous yielding base portion, and a relatively thin yielding web portion surrounded and carried by said base portion.

24. A gasket for a sound box, comprising a continuous yielding base portion, and a relatively thin yielding web portion surrounded and carried by said base portion and wholly included in the space surrounded by said base portion.

25. Ina sound box, the combination with adiaphragmmf yielding means engagingthe peripheral edge of the idiaphraginand confined peripherally, and adjustable means for compressin said yielding means laterally to portion carried by said base portion and projecting inwardly from the internal sur-' face of said base portion.

2-7. In a sound box, the combination with a diaphragm, of a yielding support'engaging the peripheral edge of the diaphragm, and adjustable means acting on said yield ing support to cause the same to apply differentyielding pressureson the peri heral edge of the diaphraginina plane su stantially normal to the axis of the diaphragm.

28. In a sound box, the combination with a diaphragm, of yielding means engaging the'peripheral edge of the diaphragm, and adjustable means acting on said yielding ineans to produce varying pressures of said yielding meanson'the diaphragm, said yielding means exertinga pressure on the poripheral. edge of said. diaphragm independently'of said adjustable means.

'29.'In a sound box,-the combination'ofa substantially infiexiblediaphr'agm, a flexible web member supporting said dmphragm by engagement with the peripheral portion thereof, and means for causing stress in said said diaphragm solely in a plane substantially normal to the axis of said diaphragm.

B0. In a sound box, the combination of a substantially inflexible diaphragm, a yieldflexiblemember to act on the periphery of ing member surrounding and supporting In Witness WhBIGOLI have hereuntb set said diaphragm, and means acting on said my hand this 27th day of October, A. D. '10 yielding member to vary the stress of said [910. yielding member with respect to said diaphragm, said yielding member exerting a. JOHN S pressure on the peripheral edge of said die Witnesses:

phragm independently of said adjustable CHARLE C. Moan,

means. FRANK B. MInDLE'mN, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

